Sharing Your Stats

[Engineer1911]

I started in December 1974 with a Lee Loader in 30-06 that my brother gave me for Christmas. It WAS the most costly (to me) gift I ever received. I have loaded for about 30 different calibers using a Rock Chucker, Dillon 450 (upgraded to 550), Dillon 550B (another "great deal"), and a Lee Anniversary special single stage.

My original Dillon 450 reloaded enough ammo to shoot out the throats in a TC .222 Remington Super 14, a S&W 1500 rifle in .222 Rem, and a Shilen heavy barrel on Remington 700 in 25-06. All three barrels key-holed at 25 yards with in the same year after shooting prairie dogs for 10 years.

In 1975 I bought a Ruger Security Six with a 6" barrel. In 1976 I really started to save money by casting my own bullets. In all these years, between 30 caliber and 45-70 rifle bullets, 9 MM, 40 S&W, 38 Spl, 357 Mag, 44 Mag, and 45 ACP, I've cast 200,000 lead bullets.

Based on powder and primer consumption, 100,000 center fire rifle rounds is a reasonable estimation. So the total round count approaches 300,000. I never realized I've shot that much ammo.

And it all started in basic training with an M16 at Lackland AFB in 1970 and then I bought a Ruger Single Six in 1972.

 

[BE Mike]

I never kept track, but it has to be in the tens of thousands. I started loading .38 SPL with a Lee Loader, a wooden dowel and a pound of Hercules Bullseye powder at the kitchen table. That was around 1971. I now load .38 SPL, .45 ACP, 9mm, .44 Mag., .30-06, .223 and 12 ga. The round I've loaded most is .45 ACP, since I shot bullseye pistol matches for many years. I had a Lyman single stage press for many years. I sold it with powder scale and powder measure for a song to a buddy and his son, who were just getting into reloading. I now have a Dillon 550, 650, RCBS Junior, and MEC 600 JR. I also have bullet casting equipment, but haven't cast any in the past 20 years, since I moved.

 

[stu1ritter]

I started loading while in high school in 1957. .303 British for a Jungle carbine and 6.5x55 for a surplus Swedish Mauser. I started shooting bullseye competition in 1965. I don't think it would be possible to count the number of .45ACP's I've reloaded over the years.

Stu

 

[MyDads38]

I started in 1980 with a Lee Classic Loader in 38 Special. Loading for my first centerfire handgun-Ruger Security Six 357 Magnum w/6" barrel. Then came my circa 1978 RCBS Reloader Special press and set of STEEL 38 special dies (still have both). Then came the Lee 3 hole turret with auto index (still have, sans auto index). Upgraded to the Lee Classic Turret and Classic Cast single stage, and 4 Lee Pro 1000's. Have a collection of Lee Handloading kits, for every caliber I shoot, and some I don't!

I load for 38 Special, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 acp. Also load 223 and 308 rifle. Used to cast my own bullets, but haven't for many years-though I do have several brand new molds-just in case... Shot PPC back in the day. No idea how many rounds I've loaded/shot since then, but it has been a LOT-LOL Nowadays, I shoot for the pure pleasure of it. Reloading is a relaxing "getaway" for me.

 

[apollo99]

I started loading in 1980 when I bought my first revolver a 629 44 magnum. I remember loading my first round and running out to my father who was out back mowing the lawn to show him. I've loaded a lot of ammo over the years. Last year when I bought another 629 to replace that one I traded away years back, I started reloading 44 magnum again, after I loaded my first round, I went running to my father who is now 88 years old and showed him my first .44 magnum reload, he just looked at it and smiled.

 

[fredj338]

I started loading in 1975 to feed my 1st 357mag. Once I got into competition in the 90s, my reloading took off with a 550, i Now also load on a 650. I currently load some 24 diff calibers, well over 350k rd mark to date.

 

[H Richard]

I didn't start reloading until the early 80's, when I started competition shooting, which necessitated production of a lot more ammo at lower prices. 44 Mag and 7 TCU for silhouette, and 38 and 45 acp for Bullseye and IPSC. I keep very good records on my load data, but never bothered to keep any records on how much. I do know it is many thousands. I know I went through at least 6000 or 7000 rounds in my 22-250's going after Prairie Dogs for several years. There's over 1000 loaded on hand now if the opportunity arises. When I switched to 9mm as a primary handgun a few years ago, I have bought over 5000 rounds of bullets, and have very few on hand presently. It's a good thing I just don't shoot near as much as I used to.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Been at it since high school in the 60's.

I did rifle, pistol and if you want primer counts.......
after the service I took up ATA and local trap, skeet and Sporting Clays along with field hunting.

I'll just say that I have popped a few caps over the years.
Does Black powder count ?

 

[ACP230]

I started with a Lee Loader in .38 Special in 1979.
Now use a Lee Turret Press and a Lee C press.

Have no idea how many rounds I've loaded. Used to load more
when I was shooting Hunter's Pistol Silhouette, the occasional
"Combat Handgun" match, and NRA High Power Rifle Matches.

Now mostly make .38 Specials, .45ACP and .41 Magnum rounds.
Loaded ammo for my son's deer rifle and mine this fall.

 

[oneounceload]

Started in 1980; load for 12, 20 and formerly for 28 gauge as well as 32acp, 32SWL, 38, 357, 9, 45acp, 223, 243, 6.5 x 55, 7-08, and 7mag.

About 350K for shotgun; about 30K for all of the others combined.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

I never really thought too much about the total amount of rounds I've reloaded and shot. Started loading in '73 for 38/357, 243 and 270. Since then I have been an avid prairie dog shooter, trap and skeet shooter, and just in the last 6 years, I've really enjoyed shooting handguns and that dasterdly AR15 type rifle.. All of these aspects of shooting require a lot of ammo. 99% of the ammo I have fired in all of my shooting has been hand loads made on my reloading equipment. Just off the top of my head....2-500,000 rounds loaded and fired. Over the years,this has included:
38/357
9mm Luger
38 Super
22 TCM
44 Magnum
45 ACP
32 H&R magnum
40 S&W
17 REM
218 Bee
221 REM
204 Ruger
222Rem
223Rem/ 556 Nato
225 Win
22-250 Rem
22-50 Ackley Imp.
220 Swift
243 Win
243 Ackley Imp
6mm Rem
6mm-250
250 Savage
270 Win
30-30
38-55
308 Win
30-06
300 Win Mag
12 gauge shotshell

 

[scooter123]

I started in 2012, right after the Sandy Hook shooting. At present I have 3 FULL 1 qt. ziplock freezer bags of spent primers and am perhaps 1000-1500 into the 4 bag. Have not a clue how many primers that is but do know it's a bunch.

 

[Skeet 028]

In 1958 for shotgun 1959 for 22 Hornet. Have loaded literally a couple million shotshells and at least a 1/4 million metallic rounds. Don't load anywhere as many of anything these days.

 

[hdwhit]

I started reloading in 1977. Ignoring the roughly 500 rounds of 30 Carbine that I assembled using an original Lee Loader in my grandmother's garage and a few rounds assembled while learning how to use my first reloading press, I have loaded 19,154 rounds.

All of them were loaded on a single stage press.

 

[bananaman]

I started loading in around 1970. Only 12 gauge shotgun. Started loading pistol cartridges in around 2012. Just started 44 magnum less than a week ago. Do 38's, 9's, .40's, 45ACP, & 45 Colt. Don't think I am going to take on anything else. Bob

 

[Sevens]

Forgive me, I'm not trying to be personal or difficult. But numbers and statistics are fascinating to me.

I did quick math and unless I made an error, the math says that in 59 years time, you would need to load 93 shotshells each day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks each year and never miss a day on average to meet the two million number.

I have to guess or hope that you were loading commercially or for a group of shooters to pull that off. I wonder if even an Olympic champion shotgunner can average 93 shots daily for -58- years, that's the kind of shooting that would wear out guns and body parts!

In 1958 for shotgun 1959 for 22 Hornet. Have loaded literally a couple million shotshells and at least a 1/4 million metallic rounds. Don't load anywhere as many of anything these days.

 

[Johnrh]

Started reloading 45's in 2003 and it went downhill from there. Now reload for 38's, 380's, 40's, 223 and 30-06 for the M1. So far I've reloaded 88,915. Yes I keep track. After I spent umpteen hours testing loads for my Bullseye 45 Star bullets stopped selling. Wasted a lot of time so got into casting my own too. Now cast for all pistol calibers. Great savings if you can get free lead.

 

[themightyhawk]

I started in '73 with one of those lee setups that you have to use a plastic hammer to load. that lasted 'bout 100 rounds. I bought a lyman C style press and pretty much wore it out. I used a rcbs press for years, and finally progressed to a Dillon square deal. today I load eleven different rounds...
.380 acp
9 mm
.38 special
.40 s&w
.357 mag.
.357 sig
.45 colt
.45 acp
10 mm
.223 rem.
.44 mag.
I now have three Dillon 550b presses. one for large primers, one for small primers, and one press dedicated to .223 rem.
I also cast most, but not all of my projectiles.
I guesstimate I have 'bout 6000 rounds loaded and 'bout 4000 .22 rimfire.

 

[rwsmith]

All you have to do.....

Haha, you made me laugh!

Anyone can call me nuts (and they'd be right) but except for those that have bounced their way to freedom... gulp, I actually have almost EVERY single spent primer that I have punched out. They will go to a scrap metal recycling center some day but in the mean time, I have them collected in 8-lb plastic smokeless powder jugs.

They get heavy when you fill one of those jugs, I must say.

Then all you have to do is count all of those primers and you'll have an exact round count. Not something everybody has to get bragging rights.

 

[monsai52]

I started reloading about 1975. I currently load for:
Handguns: .22 Jet, 32-20, .38 Special, 357 Mag., 44-40, .44 Special, .44 Mag, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt;
Rifle: .222, 30-06, 45-70.

I've also shot a lot of .36 and .44 percussion over the years.

I keep a list of the various loads I'm using, or have used in the past, but I never had any interest in keeping a round count. Everything has been loaded on single stage presses, mostly an old RCBS Rockchucker. I've never been in such a hurry as to desire a progressive.

Best regards,